Endocrine Disruptors Strategy and European Citizens' Initiative

The Commission adopts a strategy that protects EU citizens and the environment from hazardous chemicals

Endocrine Disruptors

The Commission adopted today a Communication on the future of the EU's approach regarding Endocrine disruptors, outlining how the Commission intends to ensure that the EU approach remains the most modern and fit-for-purpose in the world. Endocrine disruptors are chemical substances that alter the functioning of the hormonal system and, as a consequence, negatively affect the health of humans and animals.

The Communication delivers on the commitment taken by the Commission last year, when working with Member States on the criteria to identify endocrine disruptors in the areas of pesticides and biocides. It addresses the concerns of the European Parliament and the Council and follows up from the 7th Environment Action Programme.

The EU's strategic approach to endocrine disruptors which will continue to be based firmly on science and on the application of the precautionary principle aims at:

minimising our overall exposure to endocrine disruptors, paying particular attention to important life periods, such as pregnancy and puberty;

accelerating the development of a thorough research basis for effective and forward-looking decision-making in the context of Horizon Europe, building on the existing research and paying particular attention to areas where knowledge gaps exist;

promoting active dialogue allowing all stakeholders to be heard and to work together. In this context, the Commission will organise a Forum on endocrine disruptors on an annual basis and step up its support to the work of international organisations.

For the first time, the Commission will launch a comprehensive screening of the legislation applicable to endocrine disruptors through a Fitness Check that will build on the data already collected and analysed. Without putting into question the general science-based EU approach to the management of chemicals, the Fitness Check will involve an assessment of the current legislation on whether it delivers on the objectives of protecting human health and the environment. The Fitness Check will also include a public consultation.

The initiative states that: "Vegetarians and vegans struggle across the EU to identify suitable food. We must study the ingredients list of a food product to determine if it is fit for purchase with a hyper-awareness of ambiguous ingredients that could either be plant or animal based". The organisers call on the European Commission to propose mandatory pictorial labels on all food products indicating whether they are non-vegetarian, vegetarian, or vegan. The Commission's decision to register the Initiative concerns only the legal admissibility of the proposal. The Commission has not analysed the substance at this stage. The registration of this Initiative will take place on 12 November 2018, starting a one-year process of collection of signatures of support by its organisers. Should the initiative receive one million statements of support within one year, from at least seven different Member States, the Commission will have to react within three months. The Commission can decide either to follow the request or not, and in both instances would be required to explain its reasoning.

Other issues

The College also held a discussion on current economic and political affairs, namely following the Eurogroup and Ecofin meetings this week, and on the imposition of US sanctions on Iran.